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The Jim Clemens Collection

The Jim Clemens Collection

The late Jim Clemens of Worcester created a vast archive of steam archive films from 1959 to the end of steam traction on British Railways in 1968. The collection covers most of England, Scotland and Wales and is of a high standard of photography including very rare scenes. Jim was particularly interested in branch and secondary main lines and footage of many long closed railways can be seen in the collection. The films have been seen publicly over the years and continue to be shown by his son Mike Clemens.

For the convenience of our customers, I have placed shortcuts to the corresponding B & R volumes in this section.

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With the steam declining rapidly in the UK, Jim Clemens decided that summer family holidays should be taken in Iberia. This volume covers the rail scene in Spain and Portugal between 1965 and 1969.

The first holiday was at Sitges, south of Barcelona. In addition to modern traction, a Hungarian-built Ganz diesel railcar from 1936 is seen on an Inter-City working. Working steam included 4-6-0s, 2-8-0s, 0-8-0s, and even 4-6-2 Garratts on shed. We travel along the Reus to Salou road-side tramway in coaches made at Loughborough! Barcelona and its tram system are also visited.

The Summer of 1966 found the family on the Costa Blanca. The ESA narrow-gauge system is covered along the coast through Benidorm to Denia. The British-built Alcoy & Gandia narrow gauge line is visited and included Isle-of-Man looking 2-6-2Ts. We see the Alicante tram system that closed in 1969 and visit Alicante broad-gauge engine shed, while the now-closed Benalua terminus included an 1880's 0-6-0 as station pilot. More Garratts are seen at La Encina and Jativa.

Northern Portugal was the destination in both 1967 and 1968 (1968 only in this volume). The broad-gauge includes Viana do Castello and the Douro Valley line. The extensive narrow gauge system still operated much steam and we include rush hour at Oporto Trindade, Boa Vista (including trams) and Sernada do Vouga. We see 2-6-0Ts from the 1880s, impressive 2-8-2Ts from the 1930s, 0-4-4-0 Mallets, and even the asymmetric 2-4-6-0 Mallets.

The base in 1969 was Tarragona. By this time the Garratts had been concentrated here; watch them on freight workings to Reus and Lerida. The Madrid passenger service at Lerida was still steam worked and we see 2-8-2s, 4-8-0s, plus the giant 4-8-2s. More steam is seen at Mora La Neuva, even the 4,000hp Spanish version of a 'Warship'! The Reus to Salou line is again visited and we see some of the Tarragona to Reus trolleybuses.

Filmed in colour, a commentary plus sound track complement this look at the railways of lberian between 1965 and 1969.

Jim Clemens No:35: Vol.212 - Southern Steam Miscellany No.2

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Jim Clemens Collection No.35.

The second volume in our popular Miscellany series to cover Southern steam. It again features previously unseen footage from the Jim Clemens Collection and is mostly compiled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels. In this volume we feature a wealth of Southern steam mainly from the South Western Division including some really rare footage.

The first 10 minutes or so take us on a journey in the 1930s over the Lynton & Barnstaple narrow gauge railway. In the 1960s, Jim Clemens purchased two 16mm cine reels covering this much missed line and both are included here.

Back to standard gauge and we begin at London Waterloo followed by coverage around Clapham Junction, Hook, Basingstoke, Micheldever, Bentley, Bordon, The Alps line, Eastleigh station (plus the Shed & Works) and Southampton Central including some views of the liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth at the Docks.

The Warwick Railway Societys Farewell to Steam on the LSWR rail tour on 11th.June 1967 is covered in some detail followed by a journey from Cowes through Newport to Ryde Pier Head on the Isle of Wight. We spend some time on New Years Day in 1967 watching the Lymington Branch (the last steam operated branch line in the country). Back on the main line we see activity at Lymington Junction and Brokenhurst.

Jim Clemens married in February 1948 and honeymooned in Bournemouth. He often visited this popular seaside resort for an anniversary break. Therefore a considerable amount of film was taken around this area covering the last years of steam including Christchurch, Bournemouth Central and Bournemouth West. We also journey over the old Salisbury & Dorset railway in the snow during 1963 and spend time around Salisbury itself. All followed by a trip in a push-pull train propelled by an M7 0-4-4T along the Swanage Branch from Wareham, Worgret Junction and Corfe Castle! There is also coverage of Dorchester, Upwey & Broadwey and Weymouth including a visit to the Shed.

We see a cross-section of 1960s Southern motive power during our travels including locomotives from classes M7, O2, Q, S15, U, USA as well as West Country and Merchant Navy Pacifics. BR Standards also put in an appearance with examples from Class 5 & Class 4 4-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-4Ts, Class 3 2-6-2Ts plus a few LMS Class 2 2-6-2Ts and a Warship diesel.

The archive film is in both colour and Black & White and apart from the L & BR footage mostly dates from 1963 to 1967. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of Southern steam.

Jim Clemens No.34: Vol.209 - Southern Steam Miscellany No.1

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Jim Clemens Collection No.34.

This is the first volume in our popular Miscellany series to cover Southern steam. It features previously unseen footage from the Jim Clemens Collection and is mostly compiled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels. In this volume we feature a wealth of Southern steam with particular emphasis on the Withered Arm, Basingstoke and Somerset & Dorset areas as well as between Weymouth and Lymington Pier.

In the 1960s, Jim Clemens purchased a significant quantity of original 16mm offcuts and unused film directly from Pat Whitehouse. These were from the BBC Railway Roundabout TV programmes. Some of this footage has been used in this volume and includes a journey from Bath Green Park to Evercreech Junction with 7F 2-8-0 53807 plus T9 4-4-0s working on the Withered Arm lines.

During our travels, we see a complete cross-section of 1960s Southern motive power including locomotives from classes M7, Beattie Tank, Q, Q1, 700, T9, S15, W, N, Lord Nelson, King Arthur, Schools and West Country and Merchant Navy pacifics. BR Standards also put in an appearance with examples from Class 5s, Class 4 4-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-0s, Class 4 2-6-4Ts, Class 3 2-6-2Ts and even a 9F 2-10-0. Plus not forgetting a sprinkling of LMS Class 2 2-6-2Ts and a solitary Black 5!

The archive film is in both colour and Black & White and was mostly dates from 1960 to 1967. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this nostalgic look at the last years of Southern steam.

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Jim Clemens Collection No.33.

The third of our Miscellany series to cover Great Western Steam. The film is taken from the Jim Clemens Collection and has mostly never been seen before. Once again the footage has been assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels and especially features the lines around Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Cambrian lines in Wales.

We begin with extensive coverage of the Worcester to Bromyard branch followed by scenes at Tyseley shed (1961), Tenbury Wells, the Kidderminster to Buildwas Severn Valley branch with a GWR railcar (1961), Buildwas to Much Wenlock (1961), Kidlington, Wolvercot Junction, Oxford and Radley (1965), Didcot (1963) and Basingstoke (1965).

Next, there is a visit to the Gloucester to Hereford line before covering the Gloucester to Stroud and Chalford push-pull (in some detail), Kemble, Trowbridge and Westbury (1962), Bristol, Swindon Works and the famous Crumlin Viaduct(1963).

Returning to the Cotswolds area, we visit Wotton Wawen, Stratford-upon-Avon, Long Marston, Honeybourne, Broadway, Laverton, Cheltenham (including the last day of the local service in March 1960), Leominster, Titley Junction, Kington, Presteign (in 1964 and witness its last ever in-bound freight), Worcester Shed, Worcester, Pershore, Evesham, Littleton & Badsey, Honeybourne, Chipping Campden.Bank, Moreton-in-Marsh and finally Ascott-under-Wychwood and Charlbury!

A huge variety of ex-GWR steam locomotives is seen ranging from all types of 4-6-0s (Kings, Castles, Counties, Halls, Granges and Manors), 28xx, 2251, 72xx, 45xx, 41xx, 66xx, 57xx, 94xx, 16xx, 14xx and some GWR railcars. Plus BR Standards, mainly 9Fs, Britannias, Class 4 4-6-0s. There is something for everyone and a Great Western delight for all GW enthusiasts.

The archive film is in both colour and Black & White and was mostly filmed in the 1950s and 1960s. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this further nostalgic look at the last years of GWR steam.

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Jim Clemens Collection No.32. The third in our miscellany series covering London Midland steam. Using mostly unseen film taken from the Jim Clemens collection it is largely assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels and has coverage across much of the Region.

We visit Bescot in December 1964 to witness the end of the LNWR Super Ds, Carlisle Kingmoor shed in both 1964 and 1967, the Crewe to Carlisle line behind 'Coronations' and 'Britannias', the last day of the Stanbridgeford to Leighton Buzzard line in June 1962, the Wolverton to Newport Pagnell branch in August 1964 and group action at Lichfield Trent Valley in 1963.

Next we travel to Bromsgrove for scenes on the Lickey Incline between 1961 and 1964, including the now-preserved Jubilee Kolhapur making an unaided ascent on a freight train. We continue along the 'loop line' from Barnt Green, through Redditch, Alcester, and Evesham to Ashchurch just before its closure as a through route in 1962. Onwards to the Worcester area and then along the branch from Ashchurch to Tewkesbury, Ripple, and Upton-on-Severn in 1959 and 1960 with 4Fs and 3Fs. This is followed by scenes at Halesowen, Dowery Dell Viaduct, Saltley shed in November 1961, the Gloucester area and Bristol Temple Meads between 1960 and 1965.

A visit to Birkenhead shed in February 1967 sees a profusion of 9Fs plus the end of the 'Crabs'. There is footage of Shrewsbury to Ruabon line, Wrexham, Chester in the mid-1960s and Northwich, Patricroft and Lostock Hall sheds at the beginning of 1968. The last train is seen over the SMJR from Stratford to Woodford Halse in April 1965 with a 4F and we visit Banbury in the summer of 1966 with Black 5s. Finally there are visits to the branches from Bedford to both Northampton and Hitchin in 1959 hauled by Ivatt 2-6-2Ts.

There is something for all LM enthusiasts with a variety of classes ranging from 'Coronations', 'Royal Scots', 'Jubilees', and Black 5s, all the way down to even 2Fs - a London Midland delight!!

The archive film is mostly in colour and filmed in the late 1950s and the 1960s. An authentic sound track has been added along with commentary to complement this further nostalgic look at the last years of London Midland steam.

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Jim Clemens Collection No.31. The second of our "Miscellany" series to cover Great Western Steam. This time we mostly use previously unseen film from the Jim Clemens Collection. Once again the footage has been assembled in the order the film runs off the original cine reels and features wide coverage across much of the old GWR Empire.

A veritable feast of all that ex-GW steam which includes the branch from Oxford to Witney and Fairford, the "Great Western" high speed special on 9th.May 1964 from Paddington to Plymouth and back, a shed visit to Exmouth Junction, Gloucester (Horton Road), Worcester and Stourbridge. We feature the route of the "Cathederals Express" from Hereford via Malvern, Worcester, Evesham, Honeybourne, Campden Bank, Kingham, Oxford, Didcot and Reading to Paddington.

Onwards and we witness the last steam from Swansea to Milford Haven and Fishguard in September 1965, Dowlais Cae Harris and Dowlais Top, Savernake Low Level to Radstock West via Holt Junction in 1959, Three Cocks Junction and the Mid-Wales line, Kingham to Cheltenham via Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Norton, the Bromyard branch, Shepton Mallett High Street, the Helston Branch, Malmesbury, Highworth and Faringdon branches, the Ditton Priors branch and finally Stourbridge Junction to Wolverhampton Low Level.

A huge variety of ex-GWR steam locomotives is seen ranging from all types of 4-6-0s (Kings, Castles, Counties, Halls, Granges and Manors), 28xx, 43xx, 2251, 72xx, 45xx, 41xx, 61xx, 66xx, 57xx, 94xx, 16xx, 14xx and even a very brief glimpse of a condensing pannier tank! BR Standards put in an appearance as does the odd Warship diesel hydraulic.

There is something for everyone and a Great Western delight for all GW enthusiasts!

The archive film is in both colour and Black & White and was mostly filmed in the 1950s and 1960s. An authentic sound track has been added along with a commentary to complement this further nostalgic look at the last years of GWR steam.

Jim Clemens Collection No.30. The final volume of Southern Steam memories from the JIM CLEMENS archive film collection, this time covering the Bournemouth to Weymouth section of the main line as steam came to an end.

We begin with extensive footage at Bournemouth including rarely filmed freight workings and M7 0-4-4 tanks as well as the usual Bulleid Pacifics and Standard classes. The Bournemouth trolleybus system is also featured with its turntable at Christchurch. Onwards and we cover southern end of the Somerset & Dorset Joint from Templecombe to Blandford and Bournemouth West before we journey westwards through Poole and Wareham to the Swanage branch. Here we see footage from its M7 hauled days through to the Ivatts and Standards hauled era plus the last visiting steam rail tours in 1967 with Bulleid Pacifics. Travelling westwards via Wool, we reach Dorchester and visit the Maiden Newton to Bridport branch with steam hauled railtours plus coverage of the replacement DMU service just prior to closure. Finally there is a look at the Dorchester to Weymouth line with good scenes of trains on the Bincombe bank through Upwey.

The film has been mastered with an authentic sound-track and researched in detail to give an informative commentary.

Cover photo: Jim Clemens, 76005 on a parcels train at Upwey.

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Jim Clemens No.29: Vol.156 - Echoes of the Great Western Part 1 (80-mins) (Released Nov 2010)

Jim Clemens Collection No.29. The first in a series featuring scenes of the former Great Western Railway using archive film from the 1920s all the way to the diesel hydraulic era in the 1960s. In this part we predominately feature express classes. The early GWR scenes are a complete contrast to steam on the Western Region in its last five years from 1960 to 1965 and this production is appropriate for the 175th anniversary year of the GWR.

We start with a prelude of the broad gauge using the 1935 and 1985 re-enactments followed by extensive and detailed footage of the King, Castle and County 4-6-0 express classes. There are many scenes of these locomotives taken from all over the territories of the former GWR and Western Region of British Railways. From Paddington in London to Penzance in the Far West; to Worcester & Birmingham in the Midlands; to Swindon & Bristol; these are just few of the many locations visited.

There are special events, tours and normal service train workings of both passenger and freight over this well loved railway. A short sequence features the early diesel hydraulics with D600s, Warships & Westerns.

As a preview of Part 2, we conclude with views of Halls, Granges, Manors, Dukedogs, 2-8-0, 2-8-2T & 47xx freight classes & panniers plus a visit to the narrow gauge Welshpool and Llanfair line.

Older scenes are in black and white but the majority is in colour. An extensively researched commentary has been added along with an authentic sound track.

Jim Clemens Collection No.28. Our third volume of Southern Steam memories from the JIM CLEMENS archive film collection, this time featuring the South Western Division in Hampshire and Dorset in 1966 and 1967.

After a brief glimpse of Waterloo station exterior, there is coverage of steam from SOUTHAMPTON to BOURNEMOUTH and WEYMOUTH with Bulleid pacifics. Next we feature four rail tours with a variety of motive power including a Stanier Black 5, USA tanks to FAWLEY, a Maunsell Mogul to GOSPORT, visiting A4 pacifics 60024, "Kingfisher" and the newly preserved 4498 "Sir Nigel Gresley" both to Weymouth and an Ivatt 2MT along the Weymouth Quay Tramway. Normal service trains see steam haulage along the main line through the New Forest area with Bulleid pacifics, both rebuilt and unrebuilt plus BR Standard classes. There is also extensive coverage of the LYMINGTON Branch to the end of steam in 1967, including views of LYMINGTON PIER station from the ferry! Plenty of action at Bournemouth Central with its shed visible from the main down platform, well filmed and with an abundance of detail. Finally, brief visits to BROADSTONE, BOURNEMOUTH WEST with the Pines Express, SWANAGE with a Special, and a last look at main line steam.

Jim Clemens Collection No.27. A record of the demise of steam on British railways during 1967 and 1968 in the North-West of England, seen mainly through the camera of Jim Clemens.

We feature scenes of steam at CREWE, WARRINGTON and PRESTON followed by shed visits to Dallam, Lostock Hall, Bolton, Buxton, Northwich, Carnforth, Liverpool Edge Hill and Speke Junction. Then off to the Manchester area to see the last dying days of main line steam with Black 5s, 8Fs, 9Fs and Standards.

There were rail tours to Ravenglass and around the North-West in July and August 1968. We include the last tours from Manchester on the 4th.August 1968, especially the SLS tour plus some views of the very last steam hauled train on BR, the 15 Guinea Special on 11th.August 1968.

Into the early days of standard gauge preservation in 1968 and we cover the opening of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. We next visit Tyseley shed in September 1968 and finally 6000 King George V returned steam to British Railways in 1971 to end a record of what was to be seen in these declining years of steam traction.

The film has been mastered with an authentic sound-track and researched in detail to give an informative commentary.

Further volumes are available covering the age of steam on British Railways throughout Great Britain, including many others from the Jim Clemens collection. Details may be obtained from the address below.

Jim Clemens Collection No.26. British Railways steam came to an end in the North Eastern Region in September 1967 and views of these workings are seen at RYEHOPE GRANGE along with the last passenger workings on the ALNWICK branch featuring K1 2-6-0 and Q6, J27 & 9F hauled freight trains at Tyne Dock in 1966.

Back in regular BR steam working days, we visit DARLINGTON to see A1 and A2 Pacifics, V2 2-6-2s, WD Austerity 2-8-0s, Jubilee 4-6-0s and Ivatt 4MTs.

Industrial steam and electric action in 1967 features BACKWORTH, WIDDRINGTON, SOUTH HETTON, BURRADON and DOXFORD, plus the former BOWES incline being worked manually.

We then visit BEAMISH Museum to see 0-6-0 J21 and the replica Locomotion No.1 in steam followed by scenes of ex-LNER locomotives including Flying Scotsman at the Shildon 150th.Anniversary Cavalcade event in 1975.

Lastly, we feature coverage of the K1 No. 62005 railtour in May 1967 from STOCKTON to CATTERICK and much, much more.

The film has been mastered with an authentic sound-track and researched in detail to give an informative commentary.

Jim Clemens Collection No.25. JIM CLEMENS filmed the railways of Britain around the system from Scotland to Cornwall. The area covered in this volume just about finishes his travels for it is in an area to the east of the West Coast mainline from NUNEATON to BLETCHLEY. The previous time we were in this area was when he covered the Great Central route and its branches.

In this volume we begin at Nottingham Victoria and work south to LEICESTER. The DESFORD line is seen with a 2F 0-6-0. A steam tour in 1963 covers the route east from NOTTINGHAM on the Great Northern Grantham route to Bottesford and then to Melton Mowbray and Leicester. East again to Seaton, Luffenham and Ashwell.

South to Rugby and onto NORTHAMPTON. The area east of here towards WELLINGBOROUGH and Peterborough was full of industrial stone quarries. The narrow gauge Wellingborough and Kettering systems are covered along with NASSINGTON, EXTON PARK, STOREFIELD, IRCHESTER, SCALDWELL and CORBY.

Returning to Northampton we cover the line south via OLNEY to BEDFORD and HITCHIN. Then BEDFORD to BLETCHLEY. Before returning north to NUNEATON, the LEIGHTON BUZZARD to DUNSTABLE and WOLVERTON to NEWPORT PAGNELL branches are visited. A call once more at RUGBY for Princess Coronations and even the "Duke of Gloucester" passing through a station now heavily rebuilt with so many yards and sidings removed.

There are 22 different classes of steam engine in this volume from Jinty to Pacifics. Eastern steam and even a Western Hall appear. With Industrial engines included, it all adds up to 80-minutes of enjoyable video!

The film has been mastered with an authentic sound-track and researched in detail to give an informative commentary. Further volumes are available covering the age of steam on British Railways throughout Great Britain. Details may be obtained from the address below.